Adders27 Posted June 6 Report Posted June 6 Recommend me a sensibly priced carp cradle ( metal framed one ) Ideally packs away flat and isn’t huge in size ! I have the Avid Compact Cradle Mat and it’s nice but packs away a bit bulky. Thinking of a frame style with legs but I’m confused on what size to get ( UK waters only ) Ideally less than £100 ! Quote
greekskii Posted June 7 Report Posted June 7 A lot of places are now banning these type of cradles due to fish being damaged by them. Just a heads up as in all honestly there’s some great packaway mats out there now, sonik just released a zip up one. yonny and elmoputney 2 Quote
Adders27 Posted June 7 Author Report Posted June 7 Yeah I’m thinking my Avid Compact cradle mat is better elmoputney and kevtaylor 2 Quote
elmoputney Posted June 7 Report Posted June 7 4 hours ago, Adders27 said: Yeah I’m thinking my Avid Compact cradle mat is better If it ain't broke, just save space somewhere else, my mat is pretty massive but tbh I quite like having a big mat as I know it protects the fish I occasionally catch lol. kevtaylor 1 Quote
kevtaylor Posted June 8 Report Posted June 8 Sorry but I've disliked these raised-frame ones from the beginning, seem dangerous, stuff stabbing through from underneath or just the fish flipping out your hands and missing the thing or bashing itself on the frame. I ordered an Avid mat with sides but was out of stock so they sent me a Tracker one instead, it is bulky packed down to be honest but great for the fish. Might look for something smaller packed down - suggestions anyone? yonny 1 Quote
salokcinnodrog Posted June 8 Report Posted June 8 On 06/06/2025 at 17:46, Adders27 said: Recommend me a sensibly priced carp cradle ( metal framed one ) Ideally packs away flat and isn’t huge in size ! I have the Avid Compact Cradle Mat and it’s nice but packs away a bit bulky. Thinking of a frame style with legs but I’m confused on what size to get ( UK waters only ) Ideally less than £100 ! I must admit I really don't like metal framed cradles, fish thrash and damage themselves, or thrash and get dropped onto metal. I have 2 unhooking mats, a big Rod Hutchinson Cabrio Unhooking Mat, and a Chub Xtra Protection Mat. I do struggle with a mat with deep sides due to a screwed back, lifting a fish can be painful, and having to bend over a walled cradle is a killer, so the majority of the time I use the Chub Mat. If I need to use the barrow to transport my gear I take the Cabrio mat as it makes a really handy barrow bag. The Chub mat folds in half and stores my pod bag and centre bar, my weigh sling and sack, and a spare pair of storm poles which double as distance sticks and camera phone mount. Adders27 1 Quote
kevtaylor Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 14 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said: If I need to use the barrow to transport my gear I take the Cabrio mat as it makes a really handy barrow bag. I'd like a mat that's also a sling and can carry rods and net inside for stalking, trouble is this then doesn't have sides like a cradle. I don't want yet another mat, but one doesn't seem to do everything 🤷♂️ salokcinnodrog and jules007 2 Quote
jules007 Posted June 11 Report Posted June 11 I got a really nice beanie mat then a week later the club announced we had to have walled mats i went for the NGT XL walled job, but have to say i dont like the size it packs down to, very bulky, but i guess its good for the carp i never catch kevtaylor 1 Quote
kevtaylor Posted June 11 Report Posted June 11 9 hours ago, jules007 said: I got a really nice beanie mat then a week later the club announced we had to have walled mats i went for the NGT XL walled job, but have to say i dont like the size it packs down to, very bulky, but i guess its good for the carp i never catch Aqua do 3 nice mats, one rolls up small, one has a recess that prob acts like sides and ones a mat/sling. Cotswold do a nice one too but with prices in the 90 - 150 bracket might give it a miss as what I've got is in decent condition still, I'd be buying for the sake of buying which is not like me 🤣 jules007 1 Quote
framey Posted June 11 Report Posted June 11 (edited) Thinking anglers new one looks pretty good maybe the walls could do with being slightly higher but still 100mm https://fb.watch/A9qijnzvSU/? Edited June 11 by framey kevtaylor 1 Quote
framey Posted June 11 Report Posted June 11 5 minutes ago, framey said: Thinking anglers new one looks pretty good maybe the walls could do with being slightly higher but still 100mm https://fb.watch/A9qijnzvSU/? Removable base so if you fish a water where sides are not needed you can leave that bit at home Quote
Roughtor Posted June 11 Report Posted June 11 If your after a well made,super light walled on the floor mat that's well padded ,folds up quick and is a realistic pack down look at the Carper tackle speedflex mat I like it... kevtaylor 1 Quote
elmoputney Posted June 12 Report Posted June 12 17 hours ago, framey said: Removable base so if you fish a water where sides are not needed you can leave that bit at home Wychwood do a similar mat that's decent, they do a walled one and inside it has a removable oval mat, I actually just have the oval mat and that's decent, it has a slightly concaved middle recessed bit and also a mesh that can go over the fish if it flaps to hold it down. I guess it's similar to the thinking anglers one https://www.wychwoodcarp.co.uk/products/fish-care/unhooking-mats kevtaylor 1 Quote
framey Posted June 12 Report Posted June 12 I have the wychwood epic oval mat great bit of kit just too heavy for my style of fishing great if I’m”carmping” though Quote
Adders27 Posted Wednesday at 09:10 Author Report Posted Wednesday at 09:10 Here it is packed away, comes with a bag too Great design and not too bulky to carry around salokcinnodrog 1 Quote
framey Posted Wednesday at 15:16 Report Posted Wednesday at 15:16 Easy mat is a good choice and it’s quite light Adders27 1 Quote
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